Ecological Roles of Coral Reefs

Smooth Brain Coral - Diplora strigosa

Coral reefs all over the world provide a number of ecological roles for the environment such as:

- Maintaining species diversity within the system
(allowing a large amount of organisms to live within a small area)

- Provides habitat and nursery for 10-20% of the world's fisheries

- Protects coastlines from storms, waves, etc.

- Connects to other marine communities
(Such as mangroves, wetlands, seagrass beds, and the open sea)

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